Closure latch



N. A. MEARS CLOSURE LATCH Nov. 8, 1932.

Filed April 17. 1950 armx n-..

ilk

Patented Nov. 8 1932 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE NORTON A. MEA RS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNQR '10 CHICAGO FORGING & MANU- FACTURING CO.', OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS CLOSURE LATCH Application flled' April 17,

provide a closure latch of the above character of simplified construction by forming the resilient member journaled on the closure, for projection across the edge of the closure,

and the handle for actuating the same, into a single permanently united lever.

A. further object of this invention is to provide a closure latch wherein the latch lever may be placed in engaging position because of the flexibility of the lever and is maintained in engaging position by the resiliency of the lever.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which: 7

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a latch as applied to the inside of an automobile hood of which fragmentary portions only are shown.

Fig. 2 is a sectional viewtaken approximately in the plane 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken in the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 1. 3a In the exemplaryv embodiment herein shown, the invention is illustrated as attached to a vertical side wall 4 of an automobile hood cover of usual construction, one end being shown in overlapping relation to a fixed part 5 of the body of the automobile, such as the cowl. Though the operating mechanism of the hood securing means may be mounted on either the fixed body portion or the movable hood cover it is preferably mounted upon the latter to enable a part of the mechanism to serve as a hood cover lifting means.

The securing means consists of latches each comprising an elongated resilient member 6,

46 in the form of a lever, journaled on one end of the cover and mounted for rotation in a plane parallel to the cover so as to be movable 1930. Serial No. 444,889.

to hold the movable hood cover in position under tension, for maintaining the resilient member in a flexed position while engaging the abutment 7 and also for maintaining the resilient member in disengaged position to permit the operating handle therefor to be used as a hood lifting means.

To obtain the flexibility and resiliency necessary to hold the hood cover taut, the lever 6 is composed of a resilient wire or rod providing a latch arm 9 which is adapted to engage the abutment 7 The lever has an intermediate coil 8 on which it is mounted for rotation in a plane parallel to the hood cover on a bearing 10 of large diameter which is welded or otherwise secured to a plate 11 mounted on the movable hood cover adjacent the abutment on the fixed member. Another arm 12 extends from the coil 8 normally in a direction approximately opposite the abutment.

engaging arm and has a portion 12 forming a handle for the lever for rotating the same into or out of engagement with the abutment. The handle portion 12'' is bent to form a right angle and projects outwardly through an arcuate slot 13 cut in the hood member to enable the mechanism to be placed on the interior of the hood.

Rotation of the lever in one direction is limited by engagement of the arm 9 with the abutment 7. Rotation of the handle beyond the pointdetermined by the abutment flexes the lever and through the bearing 10 exerts a downward force tending to hold the hood cover against relative movement parallel to the cowl. The flexibility of the spring permits a slight weaving of the automobile body without strain on the hood securing device.

The means for maintaining the arm 9 in engaging position is in the nature of an upstanding guide member 14 formed integral with the plate 11 and consists of an edge portion of theplate bent at right angles thereto. This portion is positioned between the bear ing and the slot 13 in the hood cover and is itself slotted to guidethe movement of the handle. The guide member 14 is slotted to formta cam surface 15'which terminates in a lug 16 undercut at 17 to receive the handle portion 12.

Upon rotation of the handle.

the surface, the resiliency and the tension of the spring cause the handle to engage the lug 16 and the lever is thus secured in engaging position. gv

In order to. effectively preventrattling, the hood cover must not only be placedunder tension against movement parallel'to the vertical cowl wall but it also must be placed under'tension against movement perpendicular thereto.- This is accomplished by the peculiar shape of the abutment which has a base 18 for securing the abutment on the fixed hood portion and converges at the center thereof into a conical stud 19. The sloping sides of the stud form a cam surface 20 tending to force the arm 9 inward. To prevent the lever from being forced off of its pivot the bearing 10 has. at its inner extremity an outwardly projecting flange 21 of a ,diameter larger. than the diameter of the spring.

The inward force thus exerted on the lever is transmitted through the bearing to the hood cover and the latter is thus held under tension against movement perpendicular to the vertical side wall.

To open the hood the handle must first be released from the lug 16 which requires only slight flexing of the spring and pushing the -handle inward. The handle is then free to be rotated and upon reaching a position substantially vertically above the bearing, has

fully retracted the arm9 from projection .45

across the overlapping edges of the fixed and movable hood members. the handle may be used as a hood lifting means and is releasably held in position by an upstanding lug 22 formed'integral with the. plate 11. The lug 22 is positioned on the lower edge of the plate and has an edge ad acent the fixed hood member beveled to form a cam surface 23. Upon rotation of the handle the arm engages this surface and 1s cammed inward onto the edge parallelto the plate where it engages a notch 24 cut into the lug. The distortion of thespring caused I by camm ing the arm inward holds the arm I soin the notch.

. I claim as my invention 1'. The combination with two members to be connected, of a latch for holding the mem- L hers against relative, movement, comprising,

an abutment projecting from one member, a

' plate secured to the othermember adjacent In this position said abutment, a resilient lever fulcrumed on a projection of said plate for rotation into or out of engagement with said abutment, and

means integral with said plate for securing said lever in disengaged position comprising i an upstanding-lug positioned to engage said lever, said upstanding lug having a notch in the edge parallel to the plate and a beveled side edge to cam said lever away from said plate to hold said lever tension of said lever.

2. A latch for an automobile engine enclosing structure having a fixed member and a bodily movable and swingable member which in one position extends parallel with said fixed member and overlaps the edges thereof, comprising, in combination, an abutment projecting inwardly from and at right angles to said fixed member, a bearing projecting inwardly from and at right angles to, said'movable member, said movable member having an arcuateslot cut therein spaced from-said. bearing, a lever ournaledon said bearing havlng an arm adaptedto pro ect across the overlapping edges of said members.

into engagement with said abutment, and another arm resiliently connected with said first mentioned arm, an operator rigid with said last mentioned arm, and projecting through said slot to form a handle for the exterior opi eration of the latch, and an abutment'on said movable member positioned to be engaged by one arm of said lever subsequently to the engagement of said fixed abutment by'the other arm. 1

3. A device for securing an automobile hood against movement relative toa fixed member of the automobile in part defining the opening closed by the hood comprising,

in combination, an abutment mounted Onthefixed member, a plate secured to the hood ad acent said abutment, a resilient lever journaled on said plate for rotation in a plane parallel to the hood, a handle projecting through the hood for rotating said lever into engagement with said-abutment to latch the hood in position, a lug adapted tobe engaged by said lever and positioned to hold said lever under tension when in engagement with s'ai plate slotted to receive said lever and to guide it into engagementwith said lug.

In testimony whereof, I hav e hereunto at:

fixed my signature.

in said notch by the NORTON M ARS.

U5 said abutment, and an upstanding flange on 

